Silkworm's "official" debut L'ajre followed in 1992, spotlighting the band's evolving, dissonant sound, anchored in Midgett's propulsive bass work. After the following year's His Absence Is a Blessing EP, the quartet signed to the C/Z label for 1994's In the West, recorded by fellow Montana native Steve Albini (who continued to oversee the majority of the group's work). After 1994's strong Libertine, Phelps left the band, resurfacing in 1996 under the name Joel R.L. Phelps with the solo effort Warm Springs Night. As a trio, Silkworm signed to Matador and in 1996 issued Firewater, a sprawling yet finely honed set which ranked as their finest record to date. Developer followed in 1997, and a year later the group jumped to Touch & Go to issue Blueblood. Around this time, the band finalized their re-location to Chicago. Lifestyle was released in mid-2000, and they toured into the following year to support the release. Italian Platinum followed two years later and featured vocals from Kelly Hogan and keyboard work from the New Year's Matt Kadane. 2004's It'll Be Cool would be their last album. In July of 2005, Dahlquist and two fellow Chicago-based musicians were killed when the car they were occupying was struck by a car driven by a woman intent on ending her life.
Beyond Repair
Silkworm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've seen a million girls
And I've been touched by every one of them
I love Amsterdam, the girls are so sweet
They give themselves away for free
But in America, you got to pay for your treats
Who wants to fall in love with a whore?
Not me, less you, least of all Winnie the Pooh
In Havana, the ladies will help ya
Improve your Spanish at the Tropicana
For just as long as the pesoes hold out
On the road, such a long time
The more I look, the more I find
And you know, one fine day
I'm gonna make one of them mine
I'm gonna make you mine
Isabella has got such a crowd
She gets so lonely without the men around
Just remember she's got feelings like you
An invitation from a Friend in Milan
Said Italian girls love to fuck their men
I begged off -- I just don't got that much jam
Love, sister, is just a kiss away
When it exists it just comes one day
Until then, sit on your hands and wait
The song "Beyond Repair" by Silkworm touches on the experiences of a person who has traveled the world and interacted with different women from different cultures. The first verse talks about how the singer has traveled to different places and has been with many women. He makes a point that he has been touched by every one of them, which can mean not only physical touch but also emotional connection. The second and third verses talk about how the singer has experienced different cultures and their version of romance. In Amsterdam, he describes how women give themselves away for free, highlighting the stark contrast to how it works in America where people pay for what they want. He talks about the experience of being with women in Havana and how they are there until your money runs out. The singer expresses his desire to find someone of his own, and when he does, he will make her his own.
The lyrics seem to have a cynical tone towards finding true love - the singer talks about not wanting to fall in love with a whore and sees love as something that will come whenever it will. The song's lyrics show a glimpse into the life and experiences of someone who travels extensively and interacts with different cultures. It shows how love and romance differ from place to place and how it changes according to culture.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been around the world
I've travelled extensively to different places
I've seen a million girls
I've witnessed many women in different parts of the globe
And I've been touched by every one of them
I've interacted with all of them in a significant way
I love Amsterdam, the girls are so sweet
I enjoy visiting Amsterdam because of the friendly girls there
They give themselves away for free
They offer themselves sexually without asking for payment
But in America, you got to pay for your treats
In America, you have to pay for sexual services
It's not a bad system at all
The American system of paid sexual services is acceptable
Who wants to fall in love with a whore?
Who would want to develop romantic feelings for a prostitute?
Not me, less you, least of all Winnie the Pooh
None of us wish to develop a romantic attachment to a prostitute, not even Winnie the Pooh.
In Havana, the ladies will help ya
In Havana, women will assist you in improving your Spanish
Improve your Spanish at the Tropicana
By visiting the Tropicana, you can enhance your command of the Spanish language
For just as long as the pesoes hold out
But only as long as your money lasts
On the road, such a long time
Being on the road has been a continuous experience for me
The more I look, the more I find
The longer I travel, the more things I discover
And you know, one fine day, I'm gonna make one of them mine
Someday, I will find someone special and commit to them
I'm gonna make you mine
I will make that special someone my partner
Isabella has got such a crowd
Isabella is surrounded by many people
She gets so lonely without the men around
She feels sad when she is not in the company of men
Just remember she's got feelings like you
It's important to recognize that she, like everyone else, has emotions
An invitation from a Friend in Milan
A friend in Milan has invited me to visit them
Said Italian girls love to fuck their men
According to this friend, Italian women enjoy having sexual intercourse with their partners
I begged off -- I just don't got that much jam
I declined the invitation as I do not feel confident enough to pursue a romantic relationship
Love, sister, is just a kiss away
Love can happen unexpectedly
When it exists it just comes one day
Love is unpredictable and can occur suddenly
Until then, sit on your hands and wait
Until love comes, one must be patient and wait
Contributed by Matthew A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.